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First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Cajuntransplant - 05-16-2018
Just wanted to post up a quick recap for anyone interested. I decided to run my grendel in a Border Wars Rifle Series match over this past weekend at Rush Lake Range in Minnesota. There were just over 60 guys in the match and only a handful were using gas guns and I think I was the only one with a grendel. The others were running 6.5 creedmoor AR-10s.
I placed dead in the middle of the pack and only cause I threw away about 8 points between rushing a couple of stages. If I had those points I would have placed top third or maybe a tad higher. Targets were as far out as 880 yards and one in at 180. Targets were sizes ranging from various scaled size IPSC targets, cirlces, prarie dogs, pigs, a black bear, a coyote and deer pieces of steel.
Stages varied from an offhand shot, prone, tank traps, cable fence, a downed tree, and a set of stairs. The course of fire was well organized and I had a great time being my first match of the year and first match since 2016. Took a few things away to learn from and do better my next match.
Notes about the rifle... the 107TMK going 2600fps from my rifle was enough to get solid hits out to 880 although it was pretty tough to call hits on some of the heavier pieces of steel setup so I was very grateful there were flashers setup for impacts. I heard the same thing from guys running 6 dasher or 6br from their bolt guns so not too worried I guess. I ran the whole match supressed and on a couple of the stages with a 12 round count and quick shooting the gas blowback was a little much but not awful. It was very nice on a couple stages to have the ability to stay on the gun and get quicker shots without having to pause and run a bolt.
The brass catcher from tactical brass recovery is awesome and worth every penny. I wish I had a little more magnification but what I had worked well and maybe down the road I will put a little more on it for glass when funds allow. The gun ran flawless and not a single hiccup or issue during the day and course of fire.
Match was 10 stages and round count was right at 95. Had a blast and just can’t wait for the next one to see if I can sneak into a top place finished “just running a grendel” LOL. Rifle specs are somewhere on here but here it is again with any thoughts about changing anything and some of the gear:
- Upper and lower receiver from aero precision
- Aero lower parts kit
- CMC flat single stage 3.5# trigger
- Midwest Industries 15” mlok handguard (might get a seekins handguard for the flat bottom for better stability on certain style props)
- Satern 18” barrel (will swap to a 20” when this ones done for just a little more speed)
- Alex Pro Firearms bolt carrier
- Maxim Firearms bolt
- Area419 hellfire universal adapter
- Silencerco omega with flat cap and Area419 supressor mount
- ASC 15rd magazines
- Vortex Viper PST Gen2 3-15 (MRAD) in 20moa seekins mount
- Magpul MOE SLS stock
- Standard buffer and tube
- JP flat ground buffer spring
- Tactical Brass Recovery brass catcher
- Atlas bipod
- Sierra 107TMK in hornady brass / CCI 450 primers / ARComp powder
- Rifles only FTW Carbine sling
- SandSockGear support bags (large and medium) (medium has seams coming apart and fill coming out so I’m planning on trying the wiebad gear fortune cookie and pump pillow)
- Tab gear large rear bag
I think that’s about it other than some other ancillary gear. If you have any questions about anything let me know!! Thanks!
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Bigs28 - 05-16-2018
Glad you had fun. I would love to do something like that someday.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Sticks - 05-16-2018
Fun isn't it? For your first time out with it and placing that high, good job.
You have plenty of magnification. I find myself dialing back off my 24x a lot lately. Shot several stages of the last Sporting Rifle Match at 12x. One stage they (rest of the shooters) had been calling a 4" target out of action because it spun on it's strap and was leaning at about 60* towards the shooter. I opted to take it rather than a double at the next smallest target. Nice solid hit and almost corrected it. Lowly little Grendel gas gun.
I have no illusions of placing in the 50s (60 being perfect) until I get some formal training. I want to eventually break the mid 40s, then will bring a different gun. Might start playing around and shoot the whole match support side, all on tripod, give a try with sling only (no bipod)..., little things to get more experience to round out my skill set.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Cajuntransplant - 05-16-2018
Yeah it's a blast. Glad to be able to get out and play again this year. First match I ever did was in 2016 and pulled out a tenth place finish. Been hooked ever since. I dry fire and practice positions weekly and decided I wanted to run a gas gun instead of bolt gun because it's different and a little more challenging in some ways.
I don't wish I had more magnification really, but I wish I had more clarity at the same power. My bolt gun uses a 5-20 scope and it sits between 10x and 15x most of the time. With the 3-15 scope being a lot closer to maxed out it just isn't as clear at the same magnification. I try to practice all kinds of positions and change things out every range trip I get and do the same thing every dry fire practice too. It definitely helps.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - FrozenMinnesotan - 04-06-2019
Nice. I'm from Minnesota too. I plan to go to there and Harris at least once this year. From NE mn
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - kmon - 04-06-2019
Congrats on a fun safe day shooting. I really like those kind of matches.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Mad Charlie - 04-07-2019
I used to love runnin' and gunnin', can't do it anymore, but glad to see others having a good time.
Not familiar with some of the other kind of matches.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - pacificpt - 08-05-2019
Sounds like a very good day! Would like it if you can update us on your next outing with the mighty Grendel.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - Cajuntransplant - 08-05-2019
pacificpt Wrote:Sounds like a very good day! Would like it if you can update us on your next outing with the mighty Grendel.
Yeah it was a good day. I'm going to finish up this match season running my bolt gun 6.5creed and then I'll get the Grendel out of the safe and start to play with it some more. Going to revisit the 100gr eldm bullets again too and play with the 107 sierra tmks again as well. I was going to try to get it dialed in to run with a muzzle brake as well but haven't gotten to play with it that much this year as I've been trying to get my new bolt gun build through its paces. But come fall the ARs will be out at the range getting a workout and hopefully will be able to get out to go after some coyotes this year.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - GaryLL1959 - 10-10-2019
If all goes as planned, I'll be shooting my 24inch Grendel AR at the BangSteel match in Virginia this weekend...they've been having targets from 450 out to 1190 yards, so it will be a stretch, to say the least, but its for fun anyway. Will be interesting see how the 130 Bergers handle the "transition".
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - BluntForceTrauma - 10-12-2019
Looking forward to your report! Am also interested in seeing what the 130 Bergers do at range.
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - biodsl - 10-12-2019
BluntForceTrauma Wrote:Looking forward to your report! Am also interested in seeing what the 130 Bergers do at range.
+1. Here's hoping there aren't too many 1190 yard engagements!
First match with the 6.5G in the books... - GaryLL1959 - 10-14-2019
OK....made it to the match this past Saturday. First off, let me say that the folks there at Bangsteel in Virginia are a class act. Dan Newberry, his son Forrest, and all of the other folks that put on / help out at the match are super!
Equipment was : Aero lower with a 3.5# CMC trigger, Luth-AR buttstock, 24" BearCreek (which has been a pleasant surprise, delivering sub-MOA groups with at least 2 different factory loads and the 130 Berger reloads), Harris 9-13" bipod, sandsock, and a 12x SWFA mil-mil in Burris XTR rings. Loads were: Starline brass, CCI 41 primers, 29.6 grains of Leverevolution under the 130 grain Berger AR hybrid. Velocity at 850' ASL was measured at 2480fps. Actual match was shot at 2800' ASL. Mags were ASC 15 rounders.
Now, on to the report. Conditions were about perfect, lol. Overcast, about 65 degrees, a bit breezy at times. Wind at the line was 3 to 6 mph, blowing from right to left at about 75 degrees, but at the targets, (due to terrain?), was moving shots to the right by as much as a full mil. Targets ranged from 460 to 1193 (!) and from a 4 inch plate to a full IPSC torso, with a couple of life size coyotes and a (what looked like a very small) pig at 1193 yards.
The Grendel, with the 130 Bergers, seemed to hold up fine, elevation wise, even at the longest targets. Hits, and misses, just about all due to bad wind calls on my part, were easily spotted, and while the impacts weren't as impressive as some of the bigger stuff, the Impact on my shoulder was nearly as bad, either. I normally shoot a 243 Win. bolt gun with hot 107 grain loads in these matches, and the difference in wind calls between that and the Grendel is significant.
I was no where near a contender to place in the match, but I can see potential in the rifle and the load, especially with a bit more practice, and some more education in reading the wind.